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BMA support abortion censorship zones

The British Medical Association (BMA) has voted to support the implementation of censorship zones around abortion centres in the UK.

This vote comes within the context of a prolonged battle over the legality of abortion censorship zones introduced by both Ealing and Richmond councils over the last year.

These censorship zones around abortion centres, come in the form of broadly worded Public Space Protection Orders (PSPO) which make it illegal to have conversations about or offer alternatives to abortion; pray; offer leaflets that outline the practical help that is available for woman who do not want abortion; and to manifest any “act of approval or disapproval” of abortion.

In speeches during the BMA’s Annual Representative Meeting (ARM) claims were made about the harassment that women seeking abortions have faced.

However, the PSPO in Richmond was in fact introduced in the absence of any evidence of harassment outside of the clinic with not a single person prosecuted. When harassment occurs, there are various legal options already available to prevent it. Since no evidence of harassment has been brought forth, there has been no cause to apply such laws.

The BMA case in favour of censorship zones surrounding abortion centres appears not to rely on any actual evidence of harassment.

In September 2018, Home Secretary, Sajid Javid, rejected calls for nationwide “buffer zones” highlighting that “the majority of activities are more passive in nature”. He made clear that there are a wide range of existing powers already available to local authorities and the police to deal with any problematic behaviour outside of abortion centres.

Clare McCarthy of Right To Life UK said: “It is not clear why the BMA think they need to take a position on this. This is not a medical issue. Rather, it is clearly a political issue which the BMA, as an official body, should take no stance on.”

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Dear reader,

Despite the Leadbeater assisted-suicide Bill passing its Third Reading on 20 June, it scraped through by just 23 votes (314-291) after enjoying a 55-vote majority at Second Reading. Had 12 more MPs switched sides, the Bill would be dead. It now limps into the Lords with a wafer-thin majority, where peers can amend, delay or reject it outright.

THE CHALLENGE

Dignity in Dying, My Death My Decision and Humanists UK have poured millions into pushing assisted suicide and will fight hard to stop the Lords overturning the Bill.

At the same time, the Antoniazzi abortion-up-to-birth amendment, passed by MPs in June, also heads to the Lords. If it becomes law, it would no longer be illegal for women to perform their own abortions for any reason – including sex-selective purposes – and at any point up to and during birth.

We will be up against the UK’s largest abortion providers, BPAS and MSI Reproductive Choices (formerly Marie Stopes), who are expected to push for even more extreme changes to our abortion laws in the Lords.

WE NEED YOUR HELP

Thousands of vulnerable lives are now at stake. Battling these two threats is the biggest and most expensive effort in our history, and has drained our limited resources. To fight effectively on both fronts, we aim to raise £200,000 by midnight this Sunday (13 July 2025).

Every donation, large or small, will help protect lives, and UK taxpayers can add 25p to every £1 through Gift Aid at no extra cost.

Will you make a donation now to help protect vulnerable lives from these major threats?

URGENT
APPEAL
to protect vulnerable lives

Help stop three major anti-life threats.

Help fight major assisted suicide and abortion up to birth threats.